[MGLB PRESS RELEASE NO. 2021-09]
ulat mula sa Public Information Office (PIO) Los Baños
In time for the National Women’s Month celebration this March 2021, the Municipal Government of this town launched its online advocacy campaign for a cause tagged as #IJuanaHelp.
This serves as the new normal alternative to the local government’s former Walk for a Cause that was aimed at raising funds which are being utilized to assist women suffering from reproductive-related symptoms and diseases like breast, ovarian and cervical cancer, among others.
“Ang #IJuanaHelp program ay kinosepto ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Los Baños sa pangunguna ni Mayor “Kuya Tony” Kalaw upang kahit sa panahon ng pandemya ay makalikom padin ng tulong para sa mga kababaihang patuloy parin na nakikipaglaban sa sakit na kanser (The #IJuanaHelp program was conceptualized by the Municipal Government of Los Baños led by Mayor “Kuya Tony” Kalaw to raise funds even amid the pandemic to help women battling against Cancer),” Gender and Development (GAD) Officer explained.
This initiative is also in line with the municipal ordinance that was passed in 2012 titled “An Ordinance Institutionalizing the Walk for A Cause for Cancer Prevention in Women every March 8 in celebration of National Women’s Month and Providing Guidelines for Disbursement of Collections therof.”
This program seeks not only to elevate the citizens’ awareness about the different kinds of Cancer among women but also to provide information on how they could prevent them in case they find out at an earlier stage and gather funds to financially support women suffering from these diseases.
Since then, an annual Walk for A Cause is conducted every March 8 in time for the International Women’s Day celebration enjoining all the government agencies, business establishments, schools Non-government Organizations (NGOs) and other community organizations in the town as a form of support in the advocacy and a fundraising event.
The GAD Officer stressed that the #IJuanaHelp online advocacy campaign for a cause shall prove that the pandemic cannot hinder the cancer awareness advocacy which the municipal government has started.
Series of testimonials of women who were helped by the Women’s Fund of LGU Los Baños for their medicines and other medical expenses on a quarterly basis are being posted in the Municipal Government of Los Baños Facebook Page to encourage donations.
#IJuanaHelp is a play of words using the word “Juana,” symbolically pertaining to a woman, as “want to” or “wanna” implying the message “I want to help.”
For groups and individuals who want to help, donations can be sent to the municipal government’s Landbank account with Account Name: LGU Los Baños Trust and Account Number: 1892-1020-97.